Shock absorbing helmet liner

ABSTRACT

A helmet has inner and outer shells separated by an array of springs to provide shock absorption. Each spring may be a single piece, or may be formed from two spring halves interconnected at their centers. The springs have arms preferably with a serpentine configuration to provide improved energy absorbing capability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application is directed to headwear, and more particularly to a shock absorbing helmet liner for protecting the head of a person during athletic or recreational activities.

Prior inventors have provided headwear with metal springs, rubber pillars, or plastic springs to absorb impacts and protect the head.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,652,776 describes a miner's cap that contains coil compression springs in combination with rubber pillars beneath an outer shell. U.S. Pat. No. 9,179,727 includes both coil springs and pivotal connectors between a helmet's shells.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,099 places plural layers of thermoplastic sheet, formed with an array of pockets, inside an outer helmet shell. U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,472 also provides a helmet with plastic member which flex under impact to absorb and dissipate shock.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,955,169 provides specially designed shock absorbers between layers of a helmet to provide omnidirectional energy management.

Design Pat. 570055 provides multiple elements, whose function is not described, inside a helmet.

It would be desirable to improve on the shock absorption capabilities of helmets, to better protect wearers from concussion and other head injuries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to improve the shock absorbing capacity of a helmet worn for head protection.

Another object is to provide a helmet liner capable of absorbing linear impacts as well as rotational/shear impacts to an outer helmet.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by the helmet liners shown in the drawings and described and claimed below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a helmet liner embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is front elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is view like FIG. 1, with the outer shell removed.

FIG. 4 is front elevational view thereof.

FIG. 5 is sectional view taken on the plane 5-5 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the springs shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an array of springs of an alternative design around the inner shell of the helmet liner.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view thereof, including the outer shell.

FIG. 10 is a detail of one of the springs.

FIG. 11 shows a portion of a helmet liner formed by interconnected springs.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of portion of a portion of a helmet liner, in which the springs have a further alternative design.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, a helmet liner embodying the invention includes an outer shell 10 and an inner shell 12 separated by a space 14. The space is substantially filled with an array of springs 20 designed to absorb impacts to the outer shell and thus protect the head of a wearer of the helmet. Both shells are made of a strong polymer, preferably of the same material the springs are made of The outer shell is designed to fit inside an outer helmet, not shown. The inner shape is designed to conform generally to the shape of a wearer's head. Both liners may be made in assorted to sizes to fit a range of wearers.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each of the springs 20 comprises a first generally annular base 22 located in a first plane, a second generally annular base 24 located in a second plane spaced from the first plane, and a plurality of at least three (preferably four) arms 26 interconnecting the first and second annular bases. Each of the arms 26 has a wavy or serpentine configuration defined by curved sections 28, 28′ etc. having alternating curvature, with plural reversals of curvature over the length of the arm. This design provides improved energy absorption capability.

Preferably, each of the bases 22, 24 and all of the arms 26 connected to it are formed as a single unitary piece. Additionally, each base may be molded integrally with its respective base 10 or 12.

Preferably, both bases and all of the arms have a uniform thickness.

Preferably also, all of the arms of a spring are interconnected at an intermediate point between the planes, at a waist 30 which is smaller in diameter than either base. A first half of the spring lies on one side of the waist and a second half lies on the other side of the waist.

The springs are essentially hybrid coil/leaf springs whose arms bend and twist when load is applied to them, so they store energy in the form of both compression/tension and shear stresses.

The waist portion of each half spring on the outer shell faces inside the shell, whereas the waist portion of each half spring on the inner shell faces outward, toward a partner spring on the outer shell. Thus the inner and outer springs are situated in alignment with one another, so that their waists press together when the liner is assembled. The inner and outer spring halves of each spring are interconnected during molding, or by welding, adhesive, and a mechanical fastener.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 8-10, each spring 40 is formed of two generally U-shaped elements 42, 44 interconnected at a common center 50, between their arms 46, 48. Each spring element is paired with another like element which is oriented in an opposite direction, with their open ends facing in opposite directions. Thus each of the springs in FIG. 10 has four arms.

In FIG. 10, the U-shaped elements 42, 44 are aligned in a common plane, whereas in FIG. 11, the two elements in each pair are offset 90° about their common longitudinal axis.

The ends of all of the arms of the elements facing in one direction are joined to or formed integral with the inner helmet shell 12, with those of the oppositely facing elements are joined to or formed integral with the outer helmet shell 10.

In the embodiment of FIG. 12, the arms 26 of the spring elements have a serpentine configuration, that is, each arm has a curvature which reverses several times over its length. Such a configuration prevents binding and increases the energy absorbing capability of the springs.

In all of the embodiments of the invention, the springs are preferably all made of a polymeric material. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to polypropylene, UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene), nylon, PEEK (polyether ether ketone), Delrin, Ultem 1000 and ST (super tough) Nylon. Delrin is a Dupont trademark for a polyoxymethylene (POM) polymer, also known as acetal, polyacetal and polyformaldehyde. Ultem is a trademark for a family of strong PEI (polyetherimide) resins.

Most preferably, each spring is molded from the selected polymeric material. The springs may be separate pieces, or they may be interconnected to form a unitary helmet liner.

Inasmuch as the invention is subject to modifications and variations, it should be understood that the foregoing description, and the drawings, are merely exemplary of the invention defined by the claims below. 

I claim:
 1. A helmet liner comprising an inner shell, a outer shell surrounding the inner shell, with a space between the shells, and an array of springs arranged in the space between the shells to absorb impacts to the outer shell and thus provide head protection for a person wearing the helmet liner.
 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein each of said springs is made entirely of a polymeric material.
 3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said array of springs occupy substantially all of said space.
 4. The invention of claim 1, wherein each of said springs comprises a spring having at least four arms, at least two arms of which contact the inner shell and at least two arms of which contact the outer shell.
 5. The invention of claim 1, wherein each of said springs is a unitary piece.
 6. The invention of claim 1, wherein each of said springs comprises two pieces, one of which is attached to the inner shell and one of which is attached to the outer shell.
 7. The invention of claim 1, wherein each of said springs comprises a first generally annular base located in a first plane, a second generally annular base located in a second plane spaced from said first plane, a plurality of at least three arms interconnecting said first and second annular bases, each of said arms having a serpentine configuration defined by sections having alternating curvature with plural reversals of curvature over the length of the arm.
 8. The invention of claim 7, wherein both bases and all of said arms are formed as a single unitary piece.
 9. The invention of claim 8, wherein both bases and all of said arms have a uniform thickness.
 10. The invention of claim 7, wherein all of said arms are interconnected at an intermediate point between said planes, at a waist smaller in diameter than either said base.
 11. The invention of claim 1, wherein each of said springs is interconnected to a least one neighboring spring so as to form a unitary helmet liner.
 12. The invention of claim 6, wherein each of said pieces is U-shaped.
 13. The invention of claim 12, wherein each of said U-shaped pieces has two arms extending away from a center portion.
 14. The invention of claim 13, wherein each of said arms has a serpentine configuration.
 15. The invention of claim 2, wherein said polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, UHMWPE, nylon, PEEK, ST Nylon, polyoxymethylene polymer, and polyetherimide resin.
 16. The invention of claim 4, wherein each of said arms terminates at a tip.
 17. The invention of claim 16, wherein each of said tips is affixed to or integral with one of said shells.
 18. The invention of claim 17, wherein each of said tips is in constant contact with one of said shells. 